man was academically ineligible to play basketball in his senior year of high school, and he dropped out of community college at 19 to care for his son.

He then spent several years working a string of jobs: as an electrician, for the U.S. Postal Service and on the back of a garbage truck -- all to help pay the bills while hoops were on hold.

"It taught me a lifelong lesson of how to be responsible ... when you have responsibility staring at you right in your face," Jenkins said last week as the 2012 NBA Draft took place in Newark -- 11 years after he was told he could be a first-round pick but then sat for hours with his name uncalled.

After the jobs, Jenkins was spotted one summer by William Paterson University basketball Coach Jose Rebimbas on a Newark playground court. Jenkins went on to attend the Wayne, N.J., school and become its all-time leading scorer as the Pioneers went to two Division III Final Fours and Jenkins gained national attention for his story.

Jenkins said he remembers being told he'd be selected "as high as 12, as low as 20."

But 57 picks came and went, and the phone never rang that night for Jenkins, who was 26 years old. Instead, he watched four out of the first 10 picks spent on high school teens.

"To be honest with you, I was actually happy for the high school guys," said Jenkins. "I applaud those guys, they put themselves in their situations. ... These are the opportunities that can change your life for the rest of your life."

While the draft results pointed toward Jenkins being too old for his NBA dream, the 6 foot 1 inch guard took his game to Europe and tried to work his way back home.

He was yet again spotted unintentionally, this time as he played for Greek club AEK Athens and by former NBA all-star Joe Dumars, the president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons.

View full sizeExpress-Times Photo | ASHLI TRUCHONJenkins refers to his backyard basketball court as his "sanctuary."

Finally in the 2004-05 season, at age 30, Jenkins became one of the oldest rookies in NBA history when he appeared in 15 Pistons games. He never played more than 20 minutes or scored more than 10 points, averaging 6.9 and 2.8, respectively.

He wasn't re-signed for the following season, and he played a few more seasons overseas before he retired.

"The first time that I put on that Detroit Pistons uniform," he said, "it was validation."

Rebels' sanctuary

"This is my sanctuary," said Jenkins as he dribbled across a regulation-sized half basketball court in the backyard of his Palmer Township home, where he offers private coaching and helps a local youth basketball program, the

dad Tony Guarino brings his daughter Brianna once a week to Jenkins' backyard for training.

"He's a great guy," Guarino said of Jenkins. "He's been teaching her a lot. Her game has improved and she's built a lot of confidence through his work with her."

At Thursday night's draft, the second overall pick was University of Kentucky start Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who played his high school basketball games just a couple blocks from where Jenkins grew up in Elizabeth's Elizabethport section.

Jenkins said he hopes the young players who had their names called -- and those who didn't -- realize how "blessed" they are.

"Just stay in the moment," Jenkins said. "Honestly, this is a once in a lifetime thing. You only get to do this one time in your life so just enjoy the ride. ... Because it's validated once you do hear your name called."